CPE idioms and fixed phrases

act on

do whatever is advised/suggested

act up

behave awkwardly or badly

answer (sb) back

speak rudely to sb

answer back

defend oneself

answer for

be responsible for sth/pay for sth/vouch for

answer to

be under the command of sb/have the characteristics described

back down

cease to oppose

back out of

withdraw from

back up

support

be beneath sb

be demeaning

be down on

be hostile to sb

be down with

be ill (with disease)

be in for it

be about to receive punishment/trouble

be in with

be in favour with

be into

(informal) take an interest in sth

be off

(1) cease to want or be interested in sth, (2) have come loose, detached from sth, (3) stay away from work/school, (4) cancel, (5) be bad, unhealthy (usu food)

be on

be shown on television, at the cinema etc

be out

(1) be in bloom, (2) be extinguished, (3) be removed, (4) be absent (from home or work), (5) be wrong in calculation, (6) be unfashionable

be up to

(1) do, (2) depend on

bear on

be relevant to

bear with

be patient

balance against

assess in relation to

bank on

depend on

bear out

support the truth of

become of

happen to

blink at

show surprise

blow over

stop and be forgotten

blow up

explode

book up

reserve

break away

escape from captivity

break down

(1) fail to function, (2) lose control of feelings break in = (1) interrupt, (2) enter a building by force

break into

suddenly start doing sth

break off

end sth suddenly

break out

(1) start suddenly (of violent events), (2) escape from a place

break through

(1) make a discovery, (2) become visible (3) achieve success despite obstacles or difficulties

break up

(1) end a relationship, (2) disperse

break with

give up sth

brush up

improve (by study)

build up

acquire gradually/accumulate

bring about

cause

bring in

introduce (law, idea)

bring off

succeed in (sth difficult)

bring on

cause an illness

bring out

publish/release

bring round/to

cause sb to regain consciousness

bring up

(1) stop, (2) mention a subject, (3) vomit, (4) raise a child

call at

visit briefly c

all back

ask to return

call for

require

call in

consult

call out

cause one to go on strike

call up

conscript

carry off

succeed in doing sth difficult

carry on

(1) continue, (2) behave wildly

carry out

fulfil or perform sth

carry over

last from another time

carry through

complete sth in spite of difficulties

catch on

become popular

catch up

reach sb who is ahead

chip in

add one's share of money

clear of

find innocent

clear off

run away

clear out

get rid of unwanted things

clear up

(of the weather) brighten up

charge to

bill sb

charge with

publicly accuse sb of committing a wrong deed

be done for

be ruined

come about

happen

come across

find sth or meet sb by chance

come by

obtain sth

come down to

be passed to sb

come forward

step forward

come in

become fashionable

come into

inherit

come on

progress

come out

(1) become known, (2) be published

come out in

develop

come over

happen; have a result or effect on sb

come round to

change one's opinion to another point of view; be persuaded

come round/to

regain consciousness

come through

continue to live after (sth bad)

come to

amount to a total

come up

grow

come up to

reach, equal sth

come up with

have an idea about a way to solve a problem

deal in

trade in sth

deal with

tackle a problem; cope with

do away with

abolish

do down

criticise

do out of

deprive of

do up

fasten (a coat etc)

do with

need/would like

do without

manage in spite of lack

drive at

imply, suggest

go off

happen

cheat out of

prevent sb from having sth usu in an unfair way

check in

register as a guest at a hotel

check out

pay one's bill and leave a hotel

check up on

investigate sb's behaviour etc

cut back

reduce (outgoings)

cut down on

reduce (consumption)

cut in

interrupt sth

cut off

(1) isolate, (2) disconnect

cut out

omit

draw in

shorten (of days)

draw on

use part of a reserve

draw out

extend

draw up

come to a stop (of vehicles)

drop in

visit unexpectedly

drop off

decrease

drop out of

withdraw from

eat into

consume a part of sth

fall back

retreat

fall back on

turn to sth/sb for help when all else has failed

fall for

fall in love with sb

fall in

collapse

fall in with

agree to

fall off

decline

fall on

attack

fall out with

quarrel

fall through

fail to take place

feel for

sympathise

fit in

mix well with others

fit up/out

furnish/equip

fly at

attack (with blows or words)

fold up

collapse or fail

head off

prevent

join up

become a member of the military

get along/on

be on friendly terms with

get at

mean

get at sb

criticise, tease in an unkind way

get away with

escape punishment

get by

manage despite difficulties

get about

(1) move about, (2) spread (of news, gossip etc)

get across

make understood

get ahead

succeed

get sb down

depress sb

get off

send

get off with

nearly escape punishment

get on

make progress

get on with

continue doing sth

get out of

avoid

get over

recover from

get round

persuade

get round to

find time

get through

contact by phone

get up to

be busy with sth surprising or undesirable

give (oneself) up

surrender

give away

(1) reveal, (2) give freely as a present

give in

(1) deliver, yield

give off

send out/emit

give out

(1) come to an end, (2) announce, (3) distribute

give up

(1) stop doing sth, (2) admit defeat

give oneself up

surrender

hype up

exaggerate the value of sth

go down

(of remarks, proposals etc) be received in a specified way

go down with

become ill

go for

be sold

go in for

take part in

go into

describe, examine in detail

go off

make a sudden loud noise

go on

happen

go on with

continue sth esp after a pause

go round

be enough for everyone to have a share

go through

(1) examine sth closely or systematically, (2) consume

go up

be built

go with

be included in the price

hold back

(1) prevent development, (2) delay, (3) withhold

hold in

control (feelings, oneself)

hold off

(1) keep at a distance, (2) delay

hold on

wait

hold out

(1) last, (2) resist

hold out for

wait to get sth desired

hold out on

keep a secret from sb

be kept in

be detained after normal hours as a punishment

keep at

continue working at

keep back

hide

keep down

repress

keep in with

continue to be friendly

keep on

continue doing sth

keep on at

continue talking in an irritating way

keep to

follow

keep up (with)

progress at the same rate

keep up with

(1) stay at an equal level with, (2) be informed about

land in

get into trouble, difficulties etc l

and up

end (usu in difficulties)

lay aside

put aside

lay into

attack (with blows or words)

lay off

stop doing sth irritating

lay out

spend

letdown

(1) disappoint, (2) lower sth

let in for

involve in trouble etc

let in on

allow sb to share a plan, secret, etc

let on

reveal a secret

let out

(1) make (a garment etc) looser or larger (opp: take in), (2) utter a cry

let sb off

not punish severely

let sb through

allow sb to pass an exam or a test

let up

become less in degree

let up on

treat sb less severely

be made up

consist

lead on

persuade sb to believe or do sth by making false promises

look after

take care of

look ahead

think about the future

look at

read

look back

think about one's past

look down on

despise

look for

search for

look in

pay a short visit

look into

investigate/examine the facts relating to sth

look on

watch sth without taking part

look onto

have a view

look out

watch out; be careful

look out for

(1) search in order to find sth, (2) be alert in order to see/find sb

look over

examine (a place)

look to

rely on sb

look up

search for (a word) in a reference book

look up

visit esp after a long time

look up to

respect

make for

head for

make off with

steal sth and hurry away with it

make out

(1) complete sth, (2) claim to be, (3) discern, (4) understand

make over

transfer the ownership of sth

make sth into

convert

make up

(1) invent (a story), (2) end a quarrel, compensate for sth, (4) put cosmetics on sb's face (5) form

make up for

compensate sb for the trouble one has caused them

rise up

rebel

rule out

exclude

call off

cancel

live on sb/sth

get the money needed from

live through

experience over time

live up to

reach the standard that may be expected

live with

tolerate/accept sth and endure it

meet with

have as a reaction

miss out

forget to include

move on to

pass to another subject

narrow down

reduce

note down

record

pass over

ignore, overlook

hand over

give

phase out

gradually stop using

piece together

discover gradually

put about

spread (false) reports, rumours

put across

communicate

put aside/by

save for later use

put away

put into confinement

put back

delay

put down

write in a particular place

put down to

attribute to

put forward

suggest, propose

put in (a request)

make an official request

put in for

(1) apply for, (2) make an official request

put off

discourage

put off

postpone

put on

(1) gain weight, (2) pretend to have, (3) advance, clothe oneself with, (5) present

put out

extinguish

put sb up

give accommodation to

put sth behind one

deliberately forget

run across

find by chance

run after

pursue

run away

leave (school, home etc)

run away with an idea

accept it without careful thinking even though it is wrong

run behind

be delayed

run down

(1) criticise, (2) gradually stop functioning, (3) run sb down (with a vehicle)

run in

use a new vehicle carefully

run into

(1) meet by chance, (2) collide with

run off

produce quickly

run out of

exhaust the supply of sth

run through

(1) rehearse (2) use up

run up

accumulate (bills etc)

run up against

encounter difficulties

see about

make arrangements for

see off

accompany a traveller to his/her train etc

see out

accompany sb to an exit

see over

inspect properly

see through

(1) not be deceived, (2) support sb through a difficult time

see to

take care of

settle down

live a more permanent life-style

settle for

accept sth (less than expected)

settle in

become used to a new house or job

settle on

decide on

settle up

pay (a debt, a bill etc)

set about

begin

set aside

save for a special purpose

set back

hinder

set sb back

cost sb a lot of money

set in

begin (of a period, usu bad)

setoff

(1) start a reaction, (2) begin a journey (=set out)

set an animal on sb

cause an animal to attack sb

set out

begin a task/job with a specific intention

setup

(1) establish (a record), (2) start a business (3) erect

stand by

(1) remain loyal to sb, (2) do nothing to stop a bad situation, (3) be ready for action

stand down

resign from a position

stand for

(1) support sth, (2) mean, symbolise, (3) tolerate, enter oneself for election

stand in for

replace temporarily

stand out

be conspicuous/obvious

stand up for

defend; support

stand up to

defend oneself against

take aback

surprise

take after

look like a relative

take against

dislike sb

take away

remove

take back

withdraw a statement or comment

take down

(1) write down, (2) remove sth from a high place

take in

(1) deceive, (2) allow sb to stay in one's home, understand, (4) make clothes smaller

take off

(1) remove (clothing), (2) leave the ground (of aeroplanes etc), (3) imitate sb in a comic way, (4) begin to succeed (of plans, ideas etc)

take on

(1) undertake sth, (2) employ staff, (3) accept sb as an opponent

take out

(1) extract, remove, (2) accompany sb to a theatre etc

take over

take control of sth esp in place of sb else

take sb for

mistake sb/sth for sb/sth else

take to

(1) find agreeable; like, (2) begin a habit, (3) escape to; hide in

take up

(1) begin a hobby, sport etc, (2) occupy space

take up with

become involved in (usu derog)

talk about

(1) gossip about sb, (2) consider

talk at

speak to sb without listening to their replies

talk back

reply rudely

talk down to

speak to sb as if they were less clever than oneself

talk into

persuade sb to do sth

talk out

settle a problem by talking

talk out of

persuade sb not to do sth

talk round

persuade sb to agree to sth

tell against

spoil chances of success

tell apart

distinguish

tell off

scold/reprimand

think of

take sth into account

think out

prepare plans carefully

think over

reflect upon sth before making a decision

think up

invent or devise sth

turn away

refuse admittance to sb

turn down

(1) reject an offer, (2) reduce heat etc

turn in

go to bed

turn sb in

report to the authorities

turn into

convert, change

turn off

switch off

turn on

switch on

turn out

(1) assemble as a crowd, (2) produce, (3) prove to be turn over = fall on one side

turn sth over (in one's mind)

think carefully about sth

throw about/around

scatter sth throw away = discard sth as useless

throw sth back at sb

remind sb of sth bad they did in the past

throw off

escape from, get free of

throw oneself into

begin to do sth energetically and enthusiastically

throw oneself on sb/sth

rely on sb/sth

throw sb out

force sb to leave

throw sth out

get rid of unwanted items

throw sb together

bring people into contact with each other

throw up

(1) give up (a job etc), (2) vomit

try on

check the fit (of clothes)

try out

test

wear away

become thin, damaged, weak, etc by constant use

wear off

disappear gradually (effect of sth)

wear out

use until useless (of clothes etc)

work off

(1) overcome the effects of sth (energy, stress, anger), (2) repay by working (a debt)

Work on

be occupied with

clear the air

remove suspicion/bad feeling

all along

from the beginning until now

all but

nearly, almost all in = exhausted

all in all

when everything is considered

all the same

yet, however

all told

altogether, in total

be the apple of sb's eye

be very precious to sb; be sb's favourite

be up in arms

be very angry

for all

in spite of

for all I care

I don't care

for all I know

as far as I know

in the act of

while performing the act

in the air

uncertain

make allowances for

take special circumstances into consideration

make amends for

try to compensate for a past action

of all people

used to express annoyance/surprise

on account of

because of

on no account

under/in no circumstances

on the air

broadcasting (opp: off the air)

on the alert

watchful and prepared/on the lookout/expecting sth

lake sth into account

consider sth

on this/that account

for this/that reason

whet sb's appetite

make sb eager to have/experience more

up in the air

existing, but not talked about

above board

honest

bark up the wrong tree

have a false idea about sth

be broke

have no/very little money

be full of beans

be very lively

be in sb's black books

out of favour

beat about/around the bush

avoid saying what one means directly

behind bars

in prison

big-headed

conceited; boastful

black and blue all over

covered with bruises

blessing in disguise

sth which appears bad at first but then turns out favourably

blue-eyed boy/golden boy

a favoured person

bolt from the blue

suddenly

brainwave

sudden clear idea/thought

break even

show neither loss nor profit

browned off

fed up; bored

butter sb up

flatter sb

by and large

generally speaking

catch sb red-handed

be caught while committing a crime

chip off the old block

sb who is very like one of his parents

cost a bomb

very expensive

deal a blow to

damage one's hopes

don't hold your breath

don't wait for sb/sth anxiously

drive a hard bargain

be a tough businessman

drop a brick

say sth tactlessly

feel in one's bones

feeling sth instinctively

get your own back

take/get revenge

have a bee in one's bonnet

have an obsession about sth

have butterflies in one's stomach

be very nervous about sth

in black and white

in writing

in the balance

uncertain

kick the bucket

die

lay bare

make public

make a clean breast of

confess

make one's blood boil

cause sb to become very angry

on the spur of the moment

without thinking about sth

out of the blue

suddenly and unexpectedly

ring a bell

remind sb of sth

see the back of

be glad to see sb leave

take the bull by the horns

deal with sth boldly and directly

wet blanket

dull person who spoils people's happiness

a piece of cake

sth very easy to do

a red-letter day

a very important day

a wild-goose chase

a hopeless search

be caught red-handed

be caught while committing a crime

be on the cards

be likely to happen

be over the moon

be elated

call sb names

insult sb

chair a meeting

preside over a meeting

crocodile tears

false tears

cross one's mind

think of sth

cut sb dead

ignore sb

different as chalk and cheese

totally different

down in the dumps

depressed/miserable

down the drain

wasted; lost

get a bit hot under the collar

get angry, upset or embarrassed

get a problem off one's chest

tell sb else about your problem

go to the dogs

worsen

have the cheek

dare to do sth

keep one's chin up

not be discouraged

let sleeping dogs lie

avoid mentioning a subject which could cause trouble

lost cause

hopeless situation or case off colour = look/be slightly unwell

on the dole

receiving unemployment benefit/social security play one's cards right = act cleverly

show one's true colours

reveal one's real character

with flying colours

with great success

not count one's chickens before they're hatched

not assume sth before it happens

be dying for sth

really want sth

be fit for

be good enough for

be worn out

be very tired

be green

be inexperienced

cook one's goose

end one's plans abruptly

fair and square

within the rules

fall head over heels

fall in love quickly

feel one's ears burning

have a feeling that sb is talking about you

gatecrasher

sb attending a party, event etc without an invitation

get off on the wrong foot

argue or disagree at the beginning of a relationship

give and fake

compromise

have a frog in one's throat

inability to speak due to nervousness

have the gift of the gab

be able to talk well, persuasively

hear it through/on the grapevine

find out information indirectly

in a flash

very quickly

it's all Greek to me

sth new or foreign; not easily understood keep a straight face = manage to look serious under difficult circumstances

keep an eye on sth

guard/protect sth

meet behind closed doors

meet secretly

one's flesh and blood

family member

plenty more fish in the sea

many more opportunities in life for love

put one's foot down

insist on sth

put one's foot in it

make a tactless comment

take it easy

not work too hard/relax

take sb for granted

not appreciate sb

a bit of a dark horse

person with hidden abilities

be for the high jump

about to be reprimanded/punished

be in two minds about sth

not be able to decide what to do

be sound asleep

sleep deeply

be the perfect image of sb

look exactly like sb

before one can say Jack Robinson

extremely quickly

break the ice

ease the tension when one first meets people

eat one's heart out

feel jealous/sad about sth

flog a dead horse

waste time doing sth useless

fly off the handle

quickly become very angry

get out of hand

become out of control

get the hang of it

get in the habit of doing sth

go to one's head

make conceited

grey matter

brains; intelligence

hand in glove with sb

be in very close contact with sb

have a job to do sth

find sth difficult to do

have many irons in the fire

have lots of plans/possibilities in progress at the same time

have one's heart in one's mouth

be extremely anxious about sth

have time on one's hands

have free time

hold one's horses

wait, be patient

ill at ease

embarrassed; uncomfortable

keep sth under one's hat

keep sth secret

keep up with the Joneses

compete with others in status/material goods

lend sb a hand

give help to sb

like the back of one's hand

be very familiar with sth

lose heart

become discouraged

make head nor tail of

understand sth

off the cuff

without preparation

stew in one's own juice

suffer the consequences of one's own actions

straight from the horse's mouth

from the most direct source

have sb's hands full

be very busy with sth

sth comes in handy

be very useful/practical

strike gold

come across sth useful

take sth to heart

take personally/be influenced by

take to one's heels

run away

the ins and outs

the details of an activity

the tip of the iceberg

small evident part of a much larger, concealed situation

at large

free, not caught

be in the know

be well-informed

bring to one's knees

destroy, humble

bury one's head in the sand

avoid or ignore reality/ responsibility

come to a head

reach a critical point

drop sb a line

send sb a letter

fine kettle of fish

confused state of affairs

get rid of sth

give sth unwanted away

go to any lengths

do anything necessary to get sth you want

have kittens

be nervous/anxious about sth

keep one's fingers crossed

hope that sth will turn out well

keep oneself to oneself

live quietly, privately

make a killing

have a sudden, great success/profit

make light of

treat sth as unimportant

make/earn a/one's living

earn money

on the level

honest/sincere

pull one's leg

tease or trick sb

shed light upon

give new/further information

sleep like a log

be sound asleep

the life and soul of sth

the most lively and amusing person present somewhere

the lion's share

the biggest part/portion

turn over a new leaf

make a new start

with a view to doing sth

with the intention or hope of doing sth

a night owl

person who enjoys staying up late

be second to none

be the best

cross one's mind

occur to one, have a sudden idea, recall sth

cry over spilt milk

grieve over sth that can't be put right

every nook and cranny

everywhere

feel/be down in the mouth

feel discouraged/depressed

get a move on

hurry up

get on one's nerves

irritate/annoy sb

have an early night

go to bed early

hit the nail on the head

say exactly the right thing

in a nutshell

briefly; in a few words

lose one's nerve

lose courage

make a name for oneself

become famous/respected for sth

make hay while the sun shines

take advantage of favourable circumstances

make money hand over fist

make a lot of money quickly and easily

make one's getaway

escape

moon around

look miserable

null and void

invalid; not legally binding

once in a blue moon

very rarely

put sb's name forward

nominate sb

put words into one's mouth

pretend that sb has said sth that they haven't actually said

slip one's mind

forget about sth

work a miracle

make sth almost impossible happen

give the green light to sth

give permission to proceed with sth

a bitter pill to swallow

a difficult fact to accept

against all odds

despite the difficulties